Feed mechanism for lathes



Jan. 9, 1940. w. F. GROENE El AL I FEED MECHANISM FOR LATHES Filed Oct. 29, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. wuum F. GROENE BY wuuuua L.G|ROENE r m m mmm mmm ATTORNEY.

Jan.9, 1940. w. F. GROENE El Al.

FEED MECHANISM FOR LATHES Filed Oct. 29, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. WILLIAM F. GROENE B WILLARD LGROENE I ATTORNEY.

Jan. 9, 1940. w. F. GROENE El AL 2,186,168

' FEED MECHANISM FOR LATHES Filed Oct. 29, 1937 e Sheets-Sheat 4 INVENTORS. WLLIAM F. GROENE BY \AHLLARD L.GROENE r (O m ATTORNEY.

.'1 0- w. F. GRQENE Em. 2,186,168

I FEED MECHANISM FOR LATHES Filed Oct. 29, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 0-. m m I INVENTORS.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 9, 1940. w. F. GROENE ET AL FEED MECHANISM FORLATHES Filed Oct. 29, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS. wuxnm FAROENE WILLARD LG ROENE ATTORNEY.

Patented jam. 9 3946 FEED NIEGHANISM FOR LATHES William F. Greene and Willard L. Groene, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to The R. K. Le Blond Machine Tool Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application October 29, 1937, Serial No. 171,760

5 Claims.

This is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 84,500 filed June 10, 1936 and pertains particularly to a novel feed box arrangement for a lathe.

An object is to have a feed box which is totally enclosed and running in lubricant and which receives its driving power from the interior of the headstock on which it is mounted.

An object is to provide a feed box having a wide range of feed changes and which is'compact in design and smooth and quiet in operation.

It is also our idea to provide novel and simplified means on this feed box to mount and drive 1 the driving and change gear mechanism for operating a relieving attachment.

In the more conventional feed box the operatinghandle for manipulating the tumbler gear cylinder has invariably been considerably radig ally removed from the axis of the cylinder. The result of this has been to cause the cylinder to bind in its journals when shifted axially, mak- 55 come this inherent disadvantage of the conven-' tional feed box by mounting a novel spade handle substantially on the axis of the tumbler cylinder so that the forcefor moving the cylinder axially will be applied along its axis and will thereby w prevent binding of the cylinder in its journals and make possible easy selection of the desired feed.

Another advantage of this novel feed box is the provision of an index plate, showing feeds 35 and threads, which is conveniently located in clear view of the operator and closely associated with control levers of the feed box and headstock.

We provide a novel control box for the operm ating rods for the apron which is mounted on the bed of the lathe and is totally enclosed and flooded with lubricant. In this novel control box we provide a unique mechanism operating in conjunction with operating mechanism on the 45 apron for the purpose of quick and easy reversal of the direction of feeding mechanism and lead screw for the carriage. v

The above features will be described in detail and additional features will be pointed out in the 0 following description.

In the drawings:

Figure I is a front elevation partly in section of the feed box on line I-I of Figure III, showing the general arrangement of the transmission 5 and control mechanism,

Figure 11 is a vertical elevation of the right hand end of the feed box showing the spade handle and indexing and locating plate for positioning the tumbler pinion cylinder.

Figure 111 is a vertical elevation of the feed box as shown in Figure II but with the indexing and locating plate removed to show the interior arrangement of parts and driving connection fromthe headstock interior.

Figure-IV is a diagrammatic sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure III showing in detail the arrangement of the gearing and construction of the tumbler operating mechanism.

Figure V is a top diagrammatic plan view of the feed box showing the arrangement of the 15 driving mechanism for a relieving attachment.

Figure VI is a front elevation of the feed box' with the relieving attachment driving mechanism attached.

Figure VII is a left hand end view of the feed box showing the arrangement of gearing utilized for driving the relieving attachment and the carriage control box when relieving with standard threads and feeds.

The novel feed box transmission 'of our invention is completely enclosed in the feed box 8 and is flooded by lubricant derived from theheadstock interior through the opening 40 which matches a similar opening 8a of the feed box 8, Fig. IV. The feed box is mounted on the front of the headstock 4, conveniently located with respect to the operator. The feed box 8 has an accurately machined locating face 2H! adapted to abut against an accurately machinedlocating face 2 provided on the front wall of the headstock 4. Suitable bolts 2| 2 are provided passing through the integral flanges 2| 3 and 2 of the feed box 8 into appropriate tapped holes in the locating face 2H of the headstock 4, to thereby securely hold the box to the headstock and provide a lubricant-tight connection between the faces 2! and 2.

Referring particularly to Figs. III and IV, the drive for the feed box is derived from a gear I29 in the interior of the headstock 4 which drives the gear M5 which is fixed in'driving relation on the tumbler cylinder drive shaft H6. The left hand end, Fig. IV, of the shaft 2l6 is journaled in a suitable anti-friction bearing 2 mounted in the left hand wall 2l8 of the feed box 8. A nut 2| 9 threaded to the shaft 2l6 securely holds the inner race of the bearing 2|! and driving gear 2l5 securely against the integral annular flange 220 of the shaft M6. The bearing 2|! is held in fixed axial position in the u wall 2l8 by the oil seal ring 22l having the oil seal 222, by holding the outer race of the bearing 2" against the shoulder 223 of the bore 224. The shaft 2l6 is thus held from axial movement, the bearing 2" being of a character to prevent substantially all axial movement in the shaft. The right hand end of the drive shaft 2l6 is provided with splines 225 which are slidingly supported in a suitable mating splined bore of the tumbler pinion 226, which arrangement provides support for the drive shaft 2l6 to hold it in proper axial alignment.

The feed box 8 has a very unique constructionto provide ease of operation upon the part of the operator. The tumbler cylinder 221 is journaled for axial and pivotal motions in a bore 228 provided in a transverse partition 229 formed integral with the feed box 8 and journaled in a bore 236 in the locating and indexing plate 23l,

which plate is secured to the right hand end 23|a of the feed box 8 by suitable screws 23). The tumbler pinion 226 is journaled unsuitable antifriction bearings 232 and 233 in the relatively large bore 234 in the tumbler cylinder 221. A locating collar 235 fixed in the bore 234 adjacent the bearing 232 confines the bearings 232 and 233 and the tumbler pinion 226 between the inner face 236 of the bore 234 and the face 231 of the locating collar 235 to thereby prevent substantially all axial movement in the bore 234 of the cylinder 221. The tumbler gear 238 is journaled on the pin 239 fixed in the radially extending bosses 240 and 241 formed integral with the cylinder 221. The radially extending slot 242 between the bosses 246 and 24| extends into the bore 234 and provides means for axially positioning the gear 238 on the pin 239 to thereby maintain driving engagement between the tumbler pinion 226 and the tumbler gear 238 at all times. A clearance bore 243 is provided in the tumbler cylinder 221 for the extended splined end 225 of the drive shaft 2l6.

The cone gear shaft 244 is journaled in an anti-friction bearing 245 mounted in the left hand wall 2l8 of the feed box 8 and in an antifriction bearing 246 mounted in the locating and indexing plate 23!. An intermediate anti-friction bearing 241 for supporting the shaft intermediate the bearings 245 and 246 is mounted in the partition 229 of the feed box 8, the bearing retainer 248 serving to properly adjust the bearings 245 and 246. A cone of gears 249 is fixed to the shaft 244 by means of a suitable key 250 and is secured in proper axial position on the shaft by the lock nut 25! which binds the cone of gears 249 against the shoulder 252 of the shaft 244 adjacent the bearing 241.

We provide a very novel and easily operated control means for causing the tumbler gear 238 to selectively engage the various gears of the cone of gears 249. A manipulating handle 253', of a shape similar to that of a spade handle, has a cylindrical lug' 254 snugly fitting in the bore 255 in the right hand end of the tumbler cylinder 221 and secured in place by means of the pin 256. It can thus be seen that the manipulating handle 253 for rocking and axially moving the tumbler cylinder 221 is located substantially on the axis of the cylinder 221. a

We provide a unique arrangement for promoting easy selection of tumbler gear positions of cone gear engagement and for securely holding the tumbler gear in selected position. In the manipulating handle 253 is provided .a plunger 75 25l'ri'n-a diametral bore 258, which has'a tapered end 259 adapted to engage mating tapered locating and indexing holes 266 located in an arcuate projection 26l formed integral with the plate 231 and having its radius of curvature of its upper surface 26: substantially concentric with the axis of the cylinder 221. A spring 262 secured in the bore 258 by means of the threaded plug 263, yieldingly urges the plunger 251 radially outward relative to the axis of the'tumbler cylinder 221 to thereby hold the tapered end 259 of the plunger 251 in secure engagement with the various tapered holes 260. A trigger 264 pivotally mounted on a pin 265 fixed in the handle 253 and having an integral arm-266 with a rounded end 261 engaging slot 268 in the plunger 251 providesmeans for withdrawing the plunger from the tapered holes 260 when selecting the various gear changes.

It is to be clearly noted that with the handle 253 gripped with the hand and the plunger 251 withdrawn by pressure of the fingers on the trigger 264 the cylinder may be rotated circumferentially and moved axially to select the desired gear change. It is to be clearly noted that since the handle 253 is located substantially on the axis of the cylinder 221, axial movement of the cylinder by means of the handle causes no binding or cocking of the cylinder in its journals 228 and 230 as is encountered in all of the prior conventional feed change boxes. Another im.- portant improvement over prior constructions is the .location of the point of engagement of the indexing pin 251- with the tapered holes 268 radially far removed from the axis of the cylinder 221 while at the same time having the plunger closely coupled and located relatively near to the tumbler gear 238, not relatively far removed on the end of the manipulating handle as in prior constructions.

In order to facilitate obtaining the proper gear selection, an inclined portion .269 of the arcuate projection 26!, facing outward and upwardtransverse of the lathe, has formed on its upper edge 21!! a series of gear change finding notches 2" corresponding in number and relative position to the gear changes obtainable from the cone of gears 249.. On the handle 253 is formed an integral lug 212 having an arcuate indicating blade 213 with a curvature concentric with the axis of the cylinder 221 and of a width to pass with ample clearance through the slots 2 1l when the cylinder 221 is rotated. A cut away portion 214'is provided in the indicating blade 213 so that when the handle 253, Fig. II. has been rotated to its extreme clockwise position so that the end 215 of the handle 253 is in contact with the portion 216 of the inclined port on 269, the cut-away portion 214 will then permit the handle and cylinder to be shifted axially. An index plate 211 secured to the inclined portion 269 has columns 218 coinciding with the various notches 2' which show the various threads and feeds obtainable in each of the notches selected.

The operation of shifting the cylinder is relatively simple. The operator grips the handle 253 and depresses the trigger 264 thereby releasing the plunger 251 from tapered hole 266. The operator then. rotates the handle clockwise, Fig.

' H, until the end 215 of the handle 253 engages the surface 216 of the inclined portion 269 and at the same time removing the indicating blade 213 from an indicating slot 2. Under these conditions the cylinder 221 is free to be moved axially in either direction its maximum travel. The desired thread or feed is selected on the index plate and the handle 253' is moved axially until the blade 213 is positioned over the slot 211 coinciding with the column of the index plate in which the desired thread or feed is found. The operator then merely rotates the cylinder counter clockwise which automatically causes the plunger 251 to engage in the proper tapered hole 268 to properly mesh the tumbler gear 238 with the cone of gears 249. The main advantage of the indicating notches 211 and indicating blade is to enable the operator to quickly and easily determine the proper setting of the tumbler cylinder relative to the index plate, a feature distinctly lacking in all prior constructions. This arrangement also prevents improper meshing of the tumbler gear 238 with the cone of gears 249 and also avoids the necessity of jiggling the cylinder 221 in order to find the proper tapered hole 268 for the locating plunger 251.

In order to provide a wide range of threads and feeds beyond the scope obtainable by means of the cone of gears 249 we provide a series of coarse speed changes in the feed box 8 in addition to the gear changes just described. On'the cone gear shaft 244 and integral therewith between the bearings 2 45'and 241, and adjacent the latter, is formed a twelve-tooth pinion'219. Adjacent the pinion 219 is secured to the shaft 244 a compound gear 288 comprising the small twenty-tooth gear 281 and the larger thirtytooth gear 282, the compound gear 288 being fixed in driving relation on the shaft 244 by means of the key 283. Between the compound gear 288 and the bearing 245 is journaled the compound gear 284, comprising the large forty-five-tooth gear 285 and the small fifteen-tooth gear 286, having a bushing 281 fixed in its bore and adapted to rotate freely upon the bearing portion 288 of the shaft 244.

, Closely associated and parallel with the shaft 244 is provided the output drive shaft 289 of the feed box 8, journaled in an anti-friction bearing 298 mounted in the wall 218 and journaled in an tially all axial movement in shaft 289. Formed integral with the shaft 289 adjacent the bearing 298 and between this bearing and the bearing 291 is a fifteen-tooth pinion 294. Adjacent the pinion 294 is rotatively mounted a pinion sleeve 295 having a bearing bushing 296 fixed in its bore 291 adapted to revolve on the bearing portion 298 of the shaft 289. Between the pinion sleeve 295 and the bearing 291 is rotatively mounted the clutch gear 299 having a bearing bushing 388 fixed in its bore 381 adapted-to revolve on the bearing portion 382 of 'the shaft 289. The clutch gear 299 comprises a forty-eight-tooth gear 299a adapted to constant engagement with the twelvetooth pinion 219 of the shaft 244. Mounted for axial movement on the pinion sleeve 295 is a compound gear 383 adapted to drive the sleeve 295 by means of a key 384 fixed in the sleeve and having sliding engagement in a suitable keyway inthe compound gear 383. The compound gear'383 comprises a small thirty-tooth gear 385, a large forty-tooth gear 386, and clutch teeth 381 on the face of the gear 386. When the compound gear 383 is shifted axially to its extreme left position, Fig. IV, the gears 385 and 282 will be brought in driving engagement, when shifted to. its intermediate position,-as shown in Fig. IV, the gears 386 and 261 will be in driving relation,

and when the compound gear 383 is shifted to its extreme right position the clutch teeth 381 will engage mating clutch teeth 388 on the face of the gear 299a, only one of the above combinations being engageable at a time.

Formed integral with the pinion sleeve 295 and adjacent the pinion 294 is a fifteen-tooth pinion 389 of the same dimensions as the pinion 294 of the shaft 289, a portion of the pinion 389 removed from the pinion 294 being adapted to constant driving engagement with the gear 285. On the pinion 294 is mounted a forty-tooth gear 318 having a bore 311 which is an internal gear snugly fitting about the teeth of the pinion 294 but permitting the gear 318 to be shifted axially of the shaft 289. When the gear 318 is shifted fully to the left, as shown in Fig. IV, it will-be supported only on the pinion 294'and will then be in driving engagement with the gear 286. When shifted fully to the right, the gear 318 willbe disengaged from the gear 286, the internal gear bore 311 of the gear 318 will then engage over the portion of the pinion 389 adjacent the pinion 294 so as to provide a positive driving connection between the shaft 289 and pinion sleeve 295.

In noting the specific example of gear ratios here illustrated we wish to point out the very wide range of speeds obtainable from this arrangement. .A series of speed changes, between the cone shaft 244 and feed output shaft 289,

ing gear 285 and gear 286 driving gear 294; so

that engagement of gear282 and 385 provides an 8-to-l ratio; engagement of gears 281 and 386 provides a ratio of 16-to-1; and engagement of the clutches381 and 388 provides a 32-to-1 ratio. Intermediate ratios between the six major ratios just noted are obtained from the cone of gears 249 cooperating with the tumbler gear 238 as already described.

While we have cited specific gear ratios in this illustration to more clearly give some idea of the wide range of feeds and threads obtainable from this novel, compact feed box transmission, it is to be clearly understood that we are in no way adapted to engage a rack 311 formed on the top of the longitudinally located shifter rod 318, the 9 rod 318 being mounted and axially slidable in the gaging around the gear 3"].

3H and gear 3|6 will be moved axially and by means of the shifter yoke 320 the compound gear 303 can be easily shifted to the respective positions already discussed. Indicating letters A, B, and C, shown in Fig. VI, are provided to show the position selected relative to the feeds and threads obtained as shown on the index plate 211. These positions are shown in column 32I of the index plate 211. A detent arrangement comprising the plunger 322 urged against the rod 3! by a spring 323 in a suitable bore 324 in the boss 3| 9 en'gages in the notches 325 when proper shifted positions are selected.

In a like manner the gear 310 is shifted by means of the handle 326, located directly under the handle 3I2, through the transverse rod 321,

.the gear 328, the rack 329 on the rod 330, and

the shifter yoke 33I fixed to the shaft and en- A detent means comprising the plunger 332 urged against the rod 330 by a spring 333 in a suitable bore 334 in the boss 3|9 engages in the notches 335 when proper shifted positions are selected. Indicating letters, D and E, shown in Figure VI, are provided to show the position selected relative to the feeds and threads obtained as shown on the index plate 211. These positions are shown in column 336 of the index plate 211.

It can thus be seen from the above description that we have herein provided a feed box transmission of compact design and having a very wide range of feeds and threads which has a system of control levers simple and easy to operate and which are conveniently located for the operator in close association with the control means for the headstock. It is unnecessary for the operator to bend over in order to read the index plate or make the necessary manipulations of the con-- trol levers of the feed box as is an inherent defeet in all prior constructions.

The driving power from the feed box 8 to the carriage control box 9 is transmitted through a series of conveniently located change gears at the left hand end of the lathe. This drive comprises the helical change gear 331 which is removably mounted by suitable splined driving connection 338 and is securely held in place by the nut 339 threaded to the end of the output shaft 289. In Fig. VII, the standard change gear transmission from the feed box 8 to the carriage control box 9 would consist of the helical change gear 331 on the output shaft of the feed box 8 driv ing a helical idler gear removably mounted on the stud 34! adjustably secured to the quadrant 342, the idler gear in turn driving a gear of the same size and number of teeth as the gear 331 and removably mounted on the drive shaft 344 by means of the nut 345 in the same manner provided for mounting the gear 331. The quadrantis supported and clamped by suitable bolts 346 passing through elongated holes 341 in flanged portions 348 of the control box 9 so that various sized change gears can be applied to the feed box output shaft 289, the control box drive shaft 344, and the quadrant stud 34!. The gearing just described is the standard arrangement utilized in operating the lathe in low back gear, high back gear, and high spindle speeds when it is desired to obtain the standard ranges of feeds and threads for use with these spindle speeds. When it is desired to obtain metric threads and feeds the usual metric transposing gear transmission may be substituted for the gearing described, the gears being made with helical teeth and of relatively wide face to insure quiet running and long life. The wide faces also permit applying compound gears of normal width of face to the quadrant stud 34I. feed and lead of thread maybe obtained with this lathe by merely applying the proper gearing in place of these gears.

' Relieving attachment driving mechanism Through the medium of our novel feed box transmission mounted on the headstock we are able to provide a unique driving mechanism for operating a relieving attachment. This driving arrangement can be attached to the lathe and adjusted more conveniently andis of a much more simplified construction than the more conyentional driving mechanism necessary to operating relieving attachments for lathes.

Referring particularly to Figs. IV, V, VI and VII, we here illustrate the novel driving mechanism adapted to driving a'relieving attachment, as for example the relieving attachments described in Patent 980,975 issued Jan. 10, 191i, and,,in Patent 1,596,827 issued August 17, 1926. The drive shaft 2 I 6 of the feed box 8 has a splined extension 35l to which may be applied a change gear 352 removably secured in place on the shaft 2I6 by means of the nut 353 threaded to the shaft. In the normal operation of the lathe, when no relieving attachment is being used, the change gear 352 and nut 353 and washer 353a are removed from the shaft H6 and a suitable protective closure cap 354, Fig. IV, is placed over the end of the shaft, the cap being secured in the threaded bore 355 in the bearing retainer 22!.

On the front wall 3I4 of the feed box 8 is provided a machined mounting surface 356 hav-' ing a keyway 351 and tapped holes 358. On this surface 356 a bracket 359 is mounted and secured thereto by suitable bolts 360 fitting in the tapped holes 358. A tongue 36l formed on the bracket 359 and fitting snugly in the keyway 351 serves to automatically prope'rlyalign the bracket with a minimum of effort required upon the part of the operator. In the bracket 359 is fixed a bearing bushing 362 having a projecting portion 363 adapted to support the quadrant 364, the quadrant having adjustable clamping nuts 365 cooperating with the flange 366 of the bracket 359 of. a similar arrangement to that shown in Figure VII relative to the quadrant 342. Rotatably journaled in the bearing bushing 362 is the relieving attachment drive shaft 361. Axial movement in the shaft 361 is prevented by contact of the shoulder 368 of the shaft and the face 369 of the universal joint 31!], fixed to the right hand endof the shaft, which contacts the respective end faces of the bearing bushing 361. On the left hand end of the shaft 361 is provided the splined connection 311 and nut 312 for mounting a change gear 313. The splined connection 31I being of the same dimensions as the splined connection 35l of the shaft 2l6 so that change gears may be applied interchangeably to either of the shafts 216 and 361. A quadrant stud 314 having the mounting nut 315 is adapted for mounting compound change gears 316 and 311 in a like manner to the stud 341 of the quadrant 342, shown in Fig. VII. Fixed to the universal joint 31!! is the usual telescoping driving tube 318 having a key 319 fixed in its bore and adapted to slidingly engage the keyway 380 of the drive rod 381 as is usual for relieving attachment drives and as il lustrated in Patents980,975 and 1,596,827.

Any desired odd The headstock transmission is so arranged when using the relieving attachment that the feed box transmission including the shaft 2l6 will be rotated at five times the speed of the headstock spindle. This speed-up of the shaft Iii produces the necessary speeds for the relieving attachment change gear transmission comprising change gears I52, 316, 311 and 313, permitting an easy drive through these gears and permitting these gears to be of simple arrangement without the necessity of providing a relatively large speed-up in this change gear transmission. The number of gears and necessary changes for the relieving attachment change gear drive is thereby greatly reduced and simplitied for the operator.

Since the entire feed box transmission is running five times as fast, relative to the spindle speed, when the relieving attachment is being used, the one-to-one helical change gear drive described produces feeds and threads which will be five times the" standard feeds and threads indicated on the index plate.

Should it be desired to have standard feeds and threads when using the relieving attachment it is only necessary to replace this standard helical change gear set up with a speed reducing gear train which will again bring the speed of the control box drive shaft 8 to standard speeds relative to the spindle speeds. For example, Fig.

. VII, in the particular lathe here illustrated a iive-to-one reduction gearing, comprising the fifty tooth gear 382 mounted on the output'shaft 289; the compound gear comprising the hundred tooth gear 383 and forty tooth gear 384; and the hundred tooth gear la mounted on the drive shaft 344 of the control box 9. is utilized to obtain standard feeds and threads as indicated on the index plate when using the relieving attachment.

It can thus be seen from the above description that we have provided a relieving attachment drive mounted on the feed box and driving from the feed box transmission and which is of simple arrangement and easy to install on the lathe.

Having fully set forth and described our invention what we claim is:

1. In a change speed transmission having a cone of gears and a tumbler gear selectively eng'ageable with said cone of gears, rotatable and axially movable means for supporting the tumbler gear, means for driving the tumbler gear, a spade handle for manipulating said supporting means and located substantially on the axis of rotation of said supporting means, a locking plunger adapted to hold the supporting means in selected position, and a trigger associated with said spade handle to render the locking plunger ineffective.

2. In a change speed transmission having a cone ofgears and a tumbler gear selectively engageable with said cone of gears, rotatable and axially movable means for supporting the tumbler gear, means for driving the tumbler gear, a spade handle for manipulating said supporting means and located substantially on the axis of rotation of said supporting means, a locking plunger radially reciprocatable in said handle relative to the axis of rotation of said supporting means adapted to hold the supporting means in selected position, resilient means in said handle for urging said plunger radially outward, and a trigger in said spade handle to return said plunger radially inward in opposition to said resilient means;

3. In a change speed transmission having a cone of gears and a tumbler gear selectively engageable with said cone of gears rotatable and axially movable means for supporting the tumbler gear; means for driving the tumbler gear, a spade handle for manipulating said supporting means and located substantially on the axis of rotation of said supporting means, a locking plunger radially reciprocatable in said handle relative to the axis of rotation of said supporting means adapted to hold the supporting means in selected position, resilient means in said handle for urging said plunger radially outward, an arcuate member having locating and indexin holes adapted to be entered by said plunger under the action of said resilient means, and a trigger in said spade handle to return said plunger radially inward in opposition to said resilient means.

4. In a change speed transmission having a cone of gears and a tumbler gear selectively engageable with said cone of gears rotatable and axially movable means for supporting the tumbler gear, means for driving the tumbler gear, a spade handle for manipulating said supporting means and located substantially on the axis of rotation of said supporting means, a locking plunger radially reciprocatable in said handle relative to the axis of rotation of said supporting means adapted to hold the supporting means in selected position, resilient means in said handle for urging said plunger radially outward, an arcuate member having locating and indexing holes adapted to be entered by said plunger under the action of said resilient means, a series of gear change finding notches spaced axially of said supporting means on said arcuate member, an indicating blade formed on said handle arranged to enter said notches for axially prepositioning said supporting means, and a trigger in said spade handle to return said plunger radially inward in opposition to said resilient means.

5. In a change speed transmission having a cone of gears and a tumbler gear selectively engageable with said cone of gears rotatable and axially movable means for supporting the tumbler gear, means for driving the tumbler gear, a spade handle for manipulating said supporting means and located substantially on the axis of rotation of said supporting means, alocking plunger radially reciprocatable in said handle relative to the axis of rotation of said supporting means adapted to hold the supporting means in selected position, resilient means in said handle for urging said plunger radially outward, an arcuate member having locating and indexing holes adapted to be entered by said plunger under the action of said resilient means, a series of gear change finding notches, spaced axially of said supporting means on said arcuate member, an indicating blade formed on said handle arranged to enter said notches for axially prepositioning said supporting means, dial indicating means on said arcuate member associated with said notches, and a trigger in said spade handle to return said plunger radially inward in opposition to said resilient means.

WILLIAM F. GROENE. WIILARD L. GROENE. 

